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The Women's Library
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Jade Britton interviewed by Nicky Arikoglu

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Jade.
Involved in several Women's Groups, including Women for Life on Earth, Jade first visited Greenham in the early 1980s. She later decided to live at Violet Gate permanently for two years. She believes any woman who went to the camp either as a day visitor or permanent resident is a 'Greenham Woman'.
Jade was interviewed by Nicky Arikoglu in 2019.
She was photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Jan interviewed by Sara Sherwood

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
A lifelong and inspiring activist, Jan first traveled to Greenham Common for Embrace the Base and lived at the camp for six months at Blue Gate. In this interview, Jan shares some memories of the camp, her emotional connection with the musical tradition of Greenham and discusses her wedding which took place at Blue Gate some years later.
Jan was interviewed by Sara Sherwood in 2019.

Jane Griffiths interviewed by Isabelle Tracy

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Jane went to Main Gate while she was at school in York and, when she left, moved to camp permanently for about a year. She was arrested many times and went to Holloway and Styal prison as well as to a young offenders' institution because she was so young. Her memories are vivid and passionate as she talks about actions large and small, the very different responses of soldiers and her enjoyment of meeting and conversing with such a huge diversity of women.
Jane was interviewed by Isabelle Tracy in 2019.

Josetta Malcolm interviewed by Kate Kerrow

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Josetta.
Josetta lived at Blue Gate in the mid to late 1980s. They describe a time of wild parties, as well as the development of political consciousness, especially in relation to black and intersectional feminism.
Josetta was interviewed by Kate Kerrow in 2019.
Photograph by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Kate Whittle interviewed by Emily Strange

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Kate recalls how she was brought up in a fairly politically aware household, which probably inspired her to be an active member of CND at school and subsequently join her first Aldermaston march at the age of 16. Through her CND group she heard about Greenham Common and went on to spend time there in the early 80s whilst a mature student. She took her 12-year-old daughter, Lucy along a few times but all she could remember was peeing in the woods! Kate never stayed at the camp for long because she had work commitments, however, she felt it important she was there for the big demonstrations and to feel solidarity with other people. She says it was the first time she really felt she fitted in anywhere and said there was a wonderful atmosphere. She also spoke about the soldiers at the base who she said looked terrified whilst women were trying to pull down fences. 'We were like their mothers and aunts', 'They had scared looks on their faces' as if they were the ones who were vulnerable. Being at Greenham strengthened her belief in feminism and it was overall a very formative experience. She described her journey at Greenham as being a 'Bizarre mixture of joy, humour and fury' and the interview strongly captures the fact that any woman can be involved in protest, even if they do not have experience in it.
Kate was interviewed by Emily Strange in 2019.

Kathy Trevelyan interviewed by Alice Robinson

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
At the time of the interview, Kathy was an actor, a Women's Rights in Theatre activist and lived in London. She found Greenham through varied women's groups, and her first time there was for the Embrace the Base action in 1981. She spent most of her time at Blue Gate and Turquoise Gate. In this conversation, Kathy talks about the fun and creativity of protesting, such as the Halloween the women came out dressed as witches and pulled down the fence, the action where they posed as corpses, and the week she spent in Holloway Prison. Kathy has some powerful anecdotes about being arrested, her stint in prison and the women she met inside, most of whom were very much on the side of Greenham women.
Kathy was interviewed by Alice Robinson in 2019.

Maria Ragusa interviewed by Kate Kerrow

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Maria.
Maria visited Greenham regularly and taught self-defence to the women. In this interview, she discusses navigating the politics of self-defence and Non-Violent Direct Action, as well as how Greenham has influenced her life and politics.
Maria was interviewed by Kate Kerrow in 2019.
She was photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Nina Millns interviewed by Nicky Arikoglu

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
At the time of the interview, Nina was a writer, actor and activist. She attended a nursery established by Greenham Women. Operating through a non-hierarchical and collective decision-making process they, some as openly gay and bi-sexual women, encouraged the children to explore their identities, something Nina believes was a direct result of their own Greenham experiences. Nina believes Greenhamas legacy is that of an activism that bypasses and lies outside established systems of power and norms of protest so as to raise awareness of issues and move them forward. She feels Greenham's legacy has made it second nature for her to raise such awareness, to effect change on particular issues, and never to feel helpless in the face of existing power structures.
Nina was interviewed by Nicky Arikoglu in 2019.

Sheila Eschle interviewed by Tricia Grace-Norton

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Sheila was already an active member of a Peace Group and decided to join Greenham because of the development of weapons of mass destruction. 'There is so much in this world to love and cherish: and I wanted my name to be there to say I stood up and said NO I don't want nuclear weapons'. She used to go with her friend Janet for 2 weeks at a time and camp in the woods, sometimes taking her 2 daughters with her, and organising coach trips to Greenham. On her first visit she was shocked by the sight of the huge fences. She and Janet felt very strongly about not getting into trouble as they had to get back to look out for the future of their children. Sheila's daughter, Catherine, was influenced and inspired by her mother and Greenham to take up a career in International Relations from a Feminine Perspective. In one of the demonstrations items from home were pinned to the fence, Sheila pinned pictures of the family. It was a tremendous feeling of female solidarity.
Sheila was interviewed by Tricia Grace-Norton in 2019.

Sheila Thornton, Barbara Blower and Mockie Harrison interviewed by June Hughes

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Sheila and one of Sheila, Barbara and Mockie.
June Hughes met Sheila with her sister Barbara Blower and their close friend Mockie Harrison. None of them stayed for a long time but visited regularly for short visits. They helped with supplying food for the camp in a fairly well organised way with loosely arranged rotas for cooking and delivery the food.
They often took their children with them, staying mostly at Red Gate. They kindly sang some of the Greenham songs on the recording.
They were interviewed by June Hughes in Milton Keynes in 2019.
They were photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Sue Lent interviewed by Nicky Arkioglu

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Sue.
Sue participated in the 120 mile 1981 Women for Life on Earth walk from Cardiff to Greenham with her infant son. Returning to Wales, she remained committed to the cause, visiting Greenham whenever possible. She remembers the enormous sacrifices women made to be there and believes it was a good time to be a feminist. The fact that so many Greenham women with children were participating signalled for her that it was OK to be both a feminist and a mother. She witnessed many older women, born in the very early twentieth century, who previously had little opportunity to voice their political opinions, do so at Greenham, a critical point in their development as women.
Sue was interviewed by Nicky Arikoglu in 2019.
She was photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Suzanne Novak interviewed by Josephine Liptrott

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Suzanne has enjoyed a long and successful career in the NHS. She did not live full-time at the Greenham Common peace camp but was a regular visitor, occasionally staying overnight, in the early-mid 1980s. She first visited the camp for Embrace the Base and returned numerous times in the years that followed, often accompanied by one or both of her sisters. Suzanne's first daughter, Scarlett, was born in September 1984 at the South London Hospital at which Greenham women were frequent visitors to join the occupation protesting the hospital's closure. Suzanne felt that her role at Greenham Common was to provide morale and support to the women there by swelling their ranks when needed and demonstrating that their views were shared by others outside the camp. She was also part of a wider network connecting the women of Greenham to other actions and campaigns taking place around the country.
Suzanne was interviewed by Josephine Liptrott in 2019.

Interview with Professor Liz Kelly

This file includes the recorded audio of the interview with Professor Liz Kelly, along with a transcript, a summary of the recording, and a photo of the interviewee. At the time of the interview, Liz was Director of the Child and Women Abuse Studies Unit at the London Metropolitan University and held the Roddick Chair on violence against women. Date of interview: 18/12/2019. Length of recording: 01:05:10.

Interview with Naana Otoo-Oyortey MBE

This file includes the recorded audio of the interview with Naana Otoo-Oyortey MBE, along with a transcript, a summary of the recording, and a photo of the interviewee. At the time of the interview, Naana was Executive Director of FORWARD, the Foundation for Women's Health, Research and Development, an African women's rights organisation in the UK opposed to violence against women and girls. Date of interview: 14/09/2019. Length of recording: 01:01:53.

Angela Akehurst interviewed by Josephine Liptrott

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Angela worked as a coach driver in the 1980s and, though she never lived or stayed overnight at the Greenham Common peace camp, she often drove a coach to demonstrations and actions. Together with another driver, she drove a coach of 45 Greenham Women to Russia on a three-week fact-finding mission. Onboard a coach with the route number 007, their journey was challenging and eventful, involving huge distances, KGB tails and pink Champagne consumption. Angela remembers her passengers as being a hugely diverse, energetic, creative, patient and joyful group of women.
Angela was interviewed by Josephine Liptrott in 2019.

Annei Soanes and Margaret McNeil interviewed by Rebecca Mordan

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Annei and Margaret both went to Greenham after getting involved in the local CND movement and met at camp. Annei was working at Harrods at the time and was a very unusual Peace Woman until she participated in an NVDA workshop which made her reflect on her job and the double life she was living. She resigned the next day. Both Annei and Margaret were profoundly influenced by the discussions at Greenham and left with a radical feminist perspective on the peace movement that changed the course of their lives.
Annei and Margaret were interviewed by Rebecca Mordan in 2019.

Atalanta Kernick interviewed by Nicky Arikoglu

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Atalanta was born in Singapore to an army family, growing up in a sexist environment, living in Germany and several places in the UK. She dropped out of school and university and worked at a political bookshop where she got involved in political activism. She went to Greenham with a school friend, initially to Green Gate in December 1984, then to Blue Gate after the winter. She speaks of taking down sections of the fence and mass trespasses, breaking into an American vehicle depo, and being terrified at seeing the imposing convoy in the middle of the night. She remembers aggression from locals in Newbury, especially at Blue Gate by the road, but also of the kindness from the Quaker meeting house, the Empire cafe and local health food shop. She was arrested a few times and spent a short time in Holloway prison, where she remembers several women who were in there for economic reasons and the guilt she felt at having to leave them behind.
Atalanta was interviewed by Nicky Arikoglu in 2019.

Betty Levene interviewed by Rebecca Mordan

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Betty was very involved in the peace movement and anti-nuclear occupations before going to Greenham in 1981. She recalls the process of the camp becoming women only and how protestors learnt the art of Non-Violent Direct Action. She speaks of the power of carrying Greenham home as thousands of women refused to stay in the kitchen, instead, going to university and doing things they wouldn't have dreamt of doing before.
Betty was interviewed by Rebecca Mordan in 2019.

Caroline Poland, Ann Scargill and Betty Cook interviewed by Sara Sherwood

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Although most well known for their work during the Miners' Strike and Women Against Pit Closures, Caroline Poland, Anne Scargill and Betty Cook discuss how the actions of the women at Greenham Common influenced their own activism and protest strategy, their memories of visiting the camp and the long-lasted alliances they forged with the Greenham women during the 1980s.
They were interviewed by Sara Sherwood in Barnsley in 2019.

Celia Chasey interviewed by Kitty Gurnos Davies

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Celia helped set-up and run Hayford Peace Camp a a sister camp to Greenham Common that allowed both men and women to protest together. She visited Greenham for Embrace the Base and describes how they decorated the wire fence. She describes protest activities including cruise watch at night in cars along the M4 and monitoring the transport of goods in and out of the camp. Celia is a wonderful artist and made many of the banners for Hayford and discusses the song and dance that surrounded the peace movement. With her husband, Celia hosted many members of the Hayford Peace Camp in her house and relates the sacrifices and impact of protesting on family life. In a particularly touching moment, Celia reads out a poem that her daughter had written aged 16. Much of the interview is structured around looking at photographs and material Celia had collected relating to the peace camps.
Celia was interviewed by Kitty Gurnos Davies in 2019.

Clare Pattinson and Polly High interviewed by Leslie Lyle

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Clare and Polly.
Clare's parents were Catholic and part of the Pax Christi peace movement. Polly's parents were a part of CND and she joined them from a young age on demonstrations. Neither stayed at Greenham but both made frequent day visits with supplies and fresh vegetables.
The only occasion that Clare stayed was one February night when she woke in a bender with 4 inches of snow on her feet - 'Iave never been so cold in my life'. Both discuss the role of men in helping at Greenham a visiting the women with children, bringing supplies, helping with Cruise Watch. Clare, also involved in Cruise Watch, describes driving at night to watch the missile convoys: 'They were terrifying, it was like being in a horror movie.'
Polly and Clare were interviewed by Leslie Lyle in Kent in 2019.
They were photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Diana Derioz interviewed by Tricia Grace-Norton

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
3 Generations at Greenham, her mother Ursula, daughter Diana and granddaughter, Fenella. Diana has been a pacifist all her life and set up the Totnes Women for Peace. In 1982 she went to the first Greenham demonstration of women's hands around the fence. She had been on many mixed demonstrations which were often violent and thought that women could do it differently.
She lived at Greenham part-time for nearly 3 years. She took part in all of the actions including: The Black Cardigan Demonstration, Easter, Dragon Day Bunny Party. She reads a very interesting letter she sent to her children about the Easter Action she attended with her 3 years old daughter in April 1983. Her mother attended all the demonstrations and was arrested (aged 63) for dancing on the base along with 80 other women and spent 3 weeks in Holloway as examples. She has a press cutting about her mother 'Gran's Strip Ordeal' as Ursula refused a strip search. Diana was arrested and insisted at being tried in her local court supported by many Greenham women.
She speaks very eloquently about the creative conversations with women from around the world (including the miners' wives) sitting around the fire and trying to escape the smoke. She talked about how the women put 'energy' into the vehicles breaking down when they were being removed or making them invisible when trying to hide. 'We really believed in those spells' as they always seemed to work.
Diana was interviewed by Tricia Norton in 2019.

Elspeth Owen, Julia Ball and Gerd Browne interviewed by June Hughes

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and photographs of Elspeth, Julia and Gerd.
Elspeth is interviewed with her close friends Julia Bell and Gerd Browne. They met through a Cambridge peace group and were on one of the first walks from Wales. They produced a book, 1983/4, an anthology of women's writing, 'MY COUNTRIES - THE WHOLE WORLD FROM SAPPHO TO GREENHAM', now out of print. They felt empowered by the Greenham experience, Elspeth going on to be a successful potter, Julia, already an artist, inspired to continue, and Gerd opening her own bookshop.
They were interviewed by June Hughes in Cambridge in 2019.
They were photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Fenja Hill interviewed by Sarah Learmonth

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Originally from a military family, Fenja makes no bones about her reasons for coming to camp not being at all political, initially at least. She talks about the importance of being valued to women's development, recounts what it's like to be constantly evicted, the dis-information given to soldiers about the peace women and describes numerous spontaneous actions that infuriated the authorities. Fenja is clear that the legacy of Greenham has informed everything she's done since.
Fenja was interviewed by Sarah Learmonth in 2019.

Frankie Armstrong interiewed by Rebecca Mordan

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Frankie.
Frankie is a folk singer who has sung professionally in the womenas and peace movements since the 1960s. She talks about how all the women were linked up and like-minded, even when factions developed and how many of those connections have lasted. She recalls her experiences of Greenham as someone without sight, including dealings with police and their horses and of course, the power of song.
Frankie was interviewed by Rebecca Mordan in 2019.
She was photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Hilary Gould interviewed by Florence Weston

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Hilary went to Greenham for a summer with her friend and remembers it being a time when she felt able to say, 'This is for women only.' She talks about the unease of the police when faced with crowds of women pushing back against the establishment, women that were heroes to her, and the education she got from being with other women. Hilary explains how important art was as a form of expression and the lasting impact Greenham had on her life, how she viewed her role in the world and that she'd do it all over again, but with a better tent.
Hilary was interviewed by Florence Weston in 2019.

Jenny Craigen interviewed by Florence Weston

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Jenny was a career teacher at the time she went to Greenham and was involved in many large and small actions eventually going to prison for the 'No name action'. She vividly remembers her time on remand, the trial and then being sent to a prison in Cheshire, far away from home. Jenny recounts asking Tony Benn how influential he thought Greenham women were and feeling validated by his response.
Jenny was interviewed by Florence Weston in 2019.

Judith Baron interviewed by Sara Sherwood

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Judith.
Arriving at Greenham Common from the CND movement, Judith began visiting Greenham Common in 1984/5. Taking a year off during her time at college, Judith spent a transformative nine months living at Greenham Common and went on to visit Aldermaston Womenas Peace Camp for 11 years. A keen visual artist, Judith also produced a book of her photography and drawings from her time at Greenham.
Judith was interviewed by Sara Sherwood in 2019.
She was photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

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